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What tools or items do you consider essential in your survival kit? In what order of importance would you list them? If you include a first aid kit in the list, which items comprise that kit?

My mind is the most essential. I have to keep it healthy with water and food. Protect it from heat, cold and hard knocks against the ground. Keep it packed with information about where I am, what conditions I can expect, what resources are available, etc. As far as emergency kit items they are:
1. space blanket
2. pocket knife
3. matches
4. polar pure
5. bandana

Of these I've only used the pocket knife and bandana but I like to carry the other things around. The bandana has many uses; sunscreen, windscreen, sweatband, crude water filter, bandage, fashion statement, short rope, pot holder, sunglasses cleaner, washcloth, towel. Now that I have an Arizona flag bandana it also serves as an identifier! HAZ!!

Most people die of hypothermia and out here we have the added problem of water.

I always carry a lot of water and drink it but for the unforseen time when surviving a night or two out, should something go wrong on my bushwacking explorations, I always have a few things in the daypack.

Fire starting materials: matches, fresnel lens, lighter and ferrocium rod I don't take any chances with fire. It is life.

8x10 sil-nylon tarp (7oz)

Two knives for cutting down to dry wood if need be: one fixed blade (maybe a Finnish puukko) and one folder. In winter I usually throw in my Granfors Bruks Mini Hatchet forged in Sweden at 12oz.

Hooded fleece pullover, watchcap and windbreaker

Rain poncho and pants

Six Cliff bars

Water purification tabs

A few small first-aid items

And most important: A good compass (I chose the Brunton 8099 Eclipse)

If you go on extreme dayhikes with much vehemence you should have these things with you. You may never have to use them but get yourself way out there and have an unforcast storm hit the back country, become lost or trip and break something, and they will save your life.

In no particular order, since depending on the situation some are more important then others, this is what i won't leave home without:
Obviously food and water
Waterproof matches
Space blanket (used one once, they are a little loud, but keep you surprisingly warm)
Leatherman Wave
Map/Compass
Mirror (part of the compass)
Bandanna
Flashlight
Clothing warm enough to survive the night if needed
First aid kit with gauze, antiseptic, misc bandaids, asprin, and a roll of coaches tape.
cash, credit card, wallet
and most important toilet paper!

i carry a version of the SAS survival kits, plus a little extra, like a poncho

The only other thing I carry that hasn't been mentioned above is a rescue whistle. I need to get a small emergency strobe. I consider maps of the area I'm exploring an essential part of my survival gear also.

As far as first aid items it depends on the trip.

I could probably do without the wallet, but if I took stuff out and put it in my pocket, I'd forget to put it back in my wallet and I'd lose it.

The only thing in my survival kit i haven't used for other, general tasks is the 5-in 1 coughlan whistle and magnesium firestarter.It also holds a fishing kit, matches, cottonball vaseline firestarter and compass(on top) I don't take the fishing kit if there isn't any fishing where I'm going. Instead I put a couple breath mints in it. I find double uses for the space blanket (ground cloth or added warmth for sleeping bag), leatherman micra(scissors used mostly), tea candle, and 2 large garbage bags for emergency bivy,tarp, pack cover or to keep clothes dry.Duct tape and 25ft cord wrapped around my walking stick
1st aid is IBUPROFEN, as well as papaya tabs for insect bites and indigestion :roll: immodium. gauze and tape*not a full roll*moleskin,ace bandage, and triple anitibiotic cream*not even 1/8 full*
If I dayhiked, which i don't, I think the 100oz camels that come in a pack already are a great idea. I just have a 70 oz, but i don't use the pack for it. Xtra food and water are also essential.
I was reading the other day about pilots and how more than 40%don't carry anything. I was wondering how much of a percentage of hikers don't carry anything. I don't see how having a powerbar,water, and a 4 oz 1st aid kit would slow you down. unless you were carrying 2 gallons of water Since i only backpack on overnighters,weekends, and less than 7 days, I always try to carry 70 oz water. 4 lbs!!!!

Great stuff listed above, all important tangible items, some of which I pack. However. the most important item to pack along is intangable. A level, calm, mind and an excellent sense of humor.

Boot laces and spare Camelbak mouthpiece.

One item that is usually overlooked is one of those big fifty gallon plastic trashbags. I don't think they even weigh an ounce and I am constantly finding new uses for them. In cold weather or an emergency bivouac the bag can be worn under clothing (with a hole slit in the head) for an incredible amount of warmth. It can be used to gather, store, or transport water. It can be used as a poncho. It could even be used as an emergency substitute for a bckpack that has ripped or split a seam. And if nothing else, you could always use it to carry out some of the trash on the trails.

Abe wrote:...However. the most important item to pack along is intangable. A level, calm, mind and an excellent sense of humor.

Common sense goes a long way when it comes to survival!

kurthzone wrote:

Abe wrote:...However. the most important item to pack along is intangable. A level, calm, mind and an excellent sense of humor.

Common sense goes a long way when it comes to survival!

Unfortunately, you cannot buy that at REI... From what I have seen on the trails it would be always sold out anyway...

- Water
- First Aid kit (contains everything you can think of, including a shot of Hot Dam for emergencies)
- TP
- Spare Power Bar(s)

matt gilbert wrote:One item that is usually overlooked is one of those big fifty gallon plastic trashbags. I don't think they even weigh an ounce and I am constantly finding new uses for them. In cold weather or an emergency bivouac the bag can be worn under clothing (with a hole slit in the head) for an incredible amount of warmth. It can be used to gather, store, or transport water. It can be used as a poncho. It could even be used as an emergency substitute for a bckpack that has ripped or split a seam. And if nothing else, you could always use it to carry out some of the trash on the trails.

Yea, verily, and on the Seventh Day--God Created trash bags and zip locks!

DO NOT EVER leave home without a trash bag in your pack. The list of things to do with trash bags will easily leave in the dust the list of things to do with dryer sheets! And you KNOW how long THAT list is.

We personally witnessed once how a roll of trash bags actually saved some real human lives on a Salt River raft trip. Afterwards, we never left home without one (or two, or three...well-whatever.)

Trust us, Trash Bags ROCK!

J&S

ellehcim wrote:

kurthzone wrote:

Abe wrote:...However. the most important item to pack along is intangable. A level, calm, mind and an excellent sense of humor.

Common sense goes a long way when it comes to survival!

Unfortunately, you cannot buy that at REI... From what I have seen on the trails it would be always sold out anyway...

Actually, someone told Hooli what you need on the trail is common sense. So he rushed over to REI and managed to find a bag (might have been mislabled). Doesn't matter though, he lost it on the trail somewhere.

So far, at least, the above post gets a MAJOR AWARD for the Best Use of Computer Gaphics to make a point on HAZ. This post sets the bar. A mighty HIGH bar! The bar by which ALL other graphics will be judged. It's going to be a LOOOONG while until someone can top this one. AWESOME!

J&S